The World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has put together materials for a parent's guide to be utilised in protecting children when using the Internet.  This material is being offered to newspapers to publish at no cost. 

The guide, which may be run as an insert or series, is designed to assist your newspaper become a media literacy ally of teachers and parents.

"Internet in the Family: A guide to helping children when they go online" covers some of the risks associated with using new technologies and offers strategies for reducing those risks, without "demonizing" the Internet and new technology.

The guide offers advice to parents on:

•    helping children learn to search the Internet;
•    determining the credibility of information;
•    why students shouldn't 'copy and paste' Internet material into their own schoolwork;
•    how to avoid the dangers posed by undesirable sites offering pornography and worse and
•    how to conduct themselves on social networks and blogs.

Most importantly, the guide includes a model "Family Code" of behaviour for using the Internet, and offers ten recommendations for adults.

The guide was written for WAN-IFRA by Roxana Morduchowicz, Argentina Media Education Director, and was supported by the paper manufacturer Norske Skog. It has been endorsed by leading educators in the United States, Argentina, France and Nigeria.

Later in 2010, WAN-IFRA will make the Family Internet Guide II available; this will focus on adolescent use of chats and blogs.

For more information, contact Mamosa Thulo by e-mail at mamosat@printmedia.org.za